Dust-collecting apparatus.



R. A. ALLEN. DUST DOLLEUTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION mum 4m:

Patented M21127, 19 11..

2 SHEETS-BEEET 1.

R. A. ALLEN. DUST COLLECTING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATIOR TILED M1616, 1901;.

985,765; 1 Patented Mar. 7, 1911.v

2 SHEBTB-SHEET Z.

- UNITED STATE ROBERT A. ALLEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DUST-COLLECTING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, Ronnnr A. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Dust-Collecting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a portable dust and dirt collecting apparatus of the type used in cleaning carpets, rugs, draperies and similar household furnishings; and has for its object to provide a device of this character that possesses great efiiciency, is easy of manipulation and can be manufactured. at a cost that will permit of general use.

The machine is operated by hand and is of the double acting type with a continuous suction as it is propelled back and forth over the surface or object being cleaned.

Figure 1 is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a horizontal section on line 1, Fig. 3.

A represents an iiiclosing casing comprising the upper part 5 and the lower part 6 provided with fianged edges 7 and joined together on line 8. Interiorly the casing is divided into two compartments, the airchamber 9 and the dust-cha1nber 10, by a rigid diaphragm 11. A hollow piston 12 is located in the air-chamber and is rigidly mounted on a tubular piston-rod 13, the lower part of which extends some distance therethii'ough, as shown in Fig. 8. The hol low piston has a reciprocating movement andwill ordinarily be made in two parts which we provided with the joining flanged edges 14. The piston is free from any contacting walls and is entirely surrounded by space. This provides for a free and easy movement of the same and yet keeps the dimensions of the air-chamber within practical limits for a' proper working of all the parts and excessive pressure avoided. The upper edge 15 of a flexible hinge diaphragm 16 is secured in place by being tightly clamped between the joining flanged edges 7 of the two part casing. The inner or lower edge 17 of this flexible diaphragm is clamped between the flanged edges 14 of this piston 12. This diaphragm follows the movement of the piston and serves the purpose of dividing the air-chamber into two sub-compartments, the upper and lowercompartments 18 and 19 respectively. By this s PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 6, 1908.

Patented Mar. '7, 1911. Serial No. 447,237.

arrangementa continuous suction or double action is secured.

The piston is provided in the upper side with an air outlet port 20 covered by a clackvalve 21, in the under or opposite side with an outlet port 32 provided with a companion valve 23. These ,valves have an alternate automatic opening and closing action in allowing the air to escape at the proper time coincident with the direction in which the piston is traveling.

An air-exhaust port 2a is located in the upper division part 18 of the casing and is covered by an exhaust valve 25 opening outward A companion exhaust port 26 is lo' cated in the lower division part 19 of the casing and the passage thcrethrough controlled by a valve 27.

The tubular piston-rod is open at the inner or lower end and is provided in that portion thereof inside of the piston with a number of apertures 28 opening thereinto as shown in Fig. 3.

A hollow cone shaped screen-body 29 is located in the dust-chamber 10 and serves the purpose of separating the air and dust ontering through the suction intake; the dust and dirt being stopped in the dust-chamber and the air filtered through the screen walls located in thepassage leading to. the outer atmosphere. The screen-body is preferably of the conical form shown, as it provides a large area of filtering surface within a compact space and at the same time leaves sufficient room for a considerable deposit of refuse matter. This screening surface may be composed of wire cloth or any textile fabric suitable .for the purpose. The ring or collar 30 is a reinforce to stifl'en and strengthen the tapering end of the screenbody.

The sm'tionumzle 31 is rigidly secured to the casing und'is provided with the air and dust inlet-slot 32. By having a rigid attachment for the suctioi1nozzle without the interposition of a flexible connection,

prevents the'liability of choking up or proper angle for easy manipulation.

The inner ends of the manipulating hanstufiing boxes 41) and 41. nection holds the handles equidistant from dies 33 and 34am connected to the casing by companion hinges 35 and, 36 which are located on opposite sides and provides for the pivotal action necessary in imparting a lateral in and out movement to the handles which are shown in their innermost posi' tion, the dotted lines indicating the opposite position. The handles and outer end of the tubular piston-rod are pivotally connected by toggle links 38 and 39, so positioned as to insure a straight pull and push on the rod which works through the two This form of con a. center line and reduces the working frie tron toe minimum.

The lateral or in and out movement of theoperating handles has a natural coiiperative action in propelling the machine over the surface being cleaned. That is, the motion and power expended in operating the machine through the movement of the handles also greatly assists in the back and forth movement of the machine and thereby greatly lessens the labor.

The refuse contents of the dust compartment ma be conveniently removed from time to time by slacking up on a screw 42 and slipping out a plate'43 removably held in place thereby. A guard-cap 4. 1 serves" the purpose of protecting the exhaust valves from injury.

- In practical working the operation is asii'ollows: The position of the handles in Fig. 1 and the position of the piston in Fig33 correspond, which is the normal or rest position ofthe diderent arts.

ward or up movement to the piston-rod and the piston carried thereby which-creates a strong suction and draws in the air and dust lllIOllQl'l" the suction-nozZle with great force,

the air separating from the dirt particles passes through the screening surface into the open end 45 of the piston-rod andescapos into the hollow (piston through apertures 28. ()n the. up. .movementof the piston'a partial vacfitum is formed in the sub- The outward. movement of the han les imparts an ont--' air-chamber 19 which together with the air pressure from the inside of the piston opens the valve 23 and the. air escapes into chamber 19 the area of which increases with the upward travel of the piston. At the same time the upward movement of the piston will force open the exhaust valve '25 and the air displaced in chamber 18 will be discharged therethrough into the atmosphere On the down stroke of the piston this operation is reversed, the valve 21, opening for the escape of air from the piston and the exhaust-valve 27 opening outward for the discharge of the volume of air, and soy on alternately in maintaining a continuous opcration.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a dome shaped casing, an air. chamber therein into which air passes from the atmosphere, a chamber above said airchamber, a hollow piston, a flexible diaphragm extending from the iston to the walls of the casing and subdiv ding the last named chamber, an exhaust valve in the wall of the chamber upon each side of the diaphragm, a tubular piston rod having ports formed therein that open into the hollow piston, and check valves openin out-- wardly from the opposite sides of pie ton.

2. In an apparatus of the class described,

a. casing, a dust-chamber, an air-chamber ROBERT A. ALLEN.

Witnesses I M. D. S'I'AN woon, (i. E. GILUIiCf-I. 

